Trump misses Democrat deadline for releasing tax return

12 April, 2019 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration will miss a Wednesday deadline set by congressional Democrats demanding to see President Donald Trump’s tax returns, the treasury secretary said, reports AFP.

Trump is the first US president since Richard Nixon to refuse to divulge his tax information.

Critics say his refusal seems to suggest he has something to hide.

Democratic Representative Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sparked a battle last week when he made the request using a little-known provision in the tax code. Neal said: “It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials.”

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin released a letter Wednesday evening saying he was checking with the Justice Department as to the constitutional issues raised by the Democratic request.

In the letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, Mnuchin wrote: “The Committee’s request raises serious issues concerning the constitutional scope of congressional investigative authority, the legitimacy of the asserted legislative purpose, and the constitutional rights of American citizens.”